BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) Universitas Pasundan collaborates with Office of Environment and Sanitation (Dinas Lingkungan Hidup dan Kebersihan, DLHK) for Pangandaran District holds a ‘bersih pantai’ program at the area of Pangandaran East Coast (Pantai Timur Pangandaran) on Friday, 22 July 2022.
This program entitled “Bebersih Pantai” involving hundreds of students and teachers of Department of Public Administration aims to develop people’s awareness in maintaining coastal areas and estuaries to create a clean and sustainable environment.
Head of Research and Practice (Riset dan Praktek, Ristek) for Department of Public Administration FISIP Unpas Regan Vaughan, S.I.Kom., M.AP stated that the program is part of 3-week research and community service program held in Pangandaran District.
“This activity is carried out to implement the knowledge gained by students during college, one of which is through coastal cleaning activities,” he said on Friday (29/7/2022).
‘Bebersih Pantai’ is expected to raise public awareness to participate in maintaining environmental cleanliness, especially in coastal areas. Moreover, the East Coast of Pangandaran is a tourist destination.
“We hope this kind of program can last long, not only by students of Public Administration, but also by the other departments; even more, by various campuses,” he continued.
Teacher of Unpas FISIP Dr. H. Yaya Mulyana Abdul Azis, M.Si stated that research and PKM in Pangandaran District are not separated from learning curriculum of Department of Public Adminstration which requires students do more researches and practice at certain semester.
After completing the program, students are also required to make a report as a preparation for final assignment (thesis) as well as to test their individual skill in compiling/composing a report.
“There are at least 150 students involved in the program. They are placed in various villages and districts, then are divided into 5-6 people per group. The main thing is, they learn to do the research for preparing their final assignment (thesis) by forming/initiating various activities,” he explained.
Other than ‘Bebersih Pantai’, students also initiated other programs, such as youths’ empowerment, lecture, as well as charity donation in a form of handing over 200 Korans spread to several mosques in the surrounding places.
Yaya said that ‘Bebersih Pantai’ was focused on the Pangandaran East Coast, considering the fact that there are a lot of garbage delivered from the mouth of the river. Not to mention the trash left by beach visitors.
The accumulation of garbage in coastal areas not only affects to the aesthetics, but also health. Garbage that is not managed properly has the potential to become a vector of disease transmission and endanger marine life if the waste is released into the sea.
“If the environment is left damaged, it will bring disaster for oneself. Deforestation can cause flooding, as well as trash on the beach can pollute the ocean. Even though the sea can be a beautiful tourist attraction if it is kept clean,” he concluded. (Reta)**
